Worshipful Company of Broiderers Information

I have recently been chatting to several people about embroidery and the Broiderer's Guild. Here is some general information on the Lochac embroidery guild for your interest......

New Guild web address is

http://wcob.lochac.sca.org/…

There is also a Facebook page which is a great way to find resources and have questions answered:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wcobguild//

The WCoB promotes any form of needlework which can be demonstrated to have been known and performed in Europe and the Middle East before 1600 AD. This includes but is not limited to the following techniques (which may overlap):

Couching, Laid work

Beading, Pearling

Metal thread work, Purl work

Canvas work, including Slips

Cross stitch, including Voided work (Assisi)

Counted Thread work

Raised work, Padded work

Quilting

Whitework (not Hardanger)

Blackwork

Construction sewing

Needlemade lace

Non-counted thread embroidery

Applique

Styles of needlework covered by the Company shall include, but are not limited to

Coptic embroidery and pre 1000 AD work.

Woolwork e.g. Bayeux Tapestry

Opus Anglicanum

Or Nue, Lazurtechnik

German counted work

Heraldic Embroidery

Elizabethan Embroidery

Canvas work, Table carpets, Slips

Polychrome Elizabethan Embroidery

Costume Embroidery

Embroidery for Household Linens

Embroidery for Regalia

There are four competitions a year, with different themes or techniques, which are held at the major Kingdom events. You can submit a piece (complete or not) in person (ideal) or by email as detailed photos, together with your supporting documentation, and an Entry form. The best overall entrant also wins an annual prize.

- There is no minimum number of entries

- Entries do NOT need to be complete (but more marks if they are)

- Documentation - words and pics which show your inspiration, plus info on materials, methods, techniques and what choices you made and why

- Your entry can be 'work in progress' (although finished pieces score higher)

- If you can't get your entry to the event, you can submit online - we need clear pictures of front (and back, if possible) and any documentation.

There is no obligation to enter competitions or even have your work graded for ranking. If you decide to pursue ranking within the guild the system is outlined below.

Grading system -

1 piece at apprentice level or above = Apprentice.

3 pieces at journeyman level or above in different techniques = Journeyman.

5 pieces at Master level in different techniques = Master.

Upcoming competitions-

November Crown (9-10 November, Stowe) - Fruit (any technique)

12th Night - Elizabethan polychrome

May Crown 2020 - Household item (any technique)

Midwinter – Blackwork

November Crown - Cats great and small (any technique)

12th Night - Whitework

More information also on the old WCoB website (somewhat out of date, but still contains much of interest):

BROIDERERS.SCA.ORG.AU

The Guild also is involved in making step-down gifts for Royalty, LOG and Mouse pouches, Pelican and Laurel cloaks, and special group projects.

I posted this information to my local group to provide advice to new embroiderers. In the future I would like to focus more on developing my embroidery skills and diversifying my embroidery projects, so the list of embroidery styles will be useful.

Mouse Guard Pouch

A little project that I just managed to squeeze in and finish before the big event was a Mouse Pouch to offer to Their Majesties. In this Kingdom, kids may be invited to join the Mouse Guard, which is (of course,) a great honour. I managed to get one finished in time, and I was very happy that a special little member of our Barony was invited to join the Guard and presented with the pouch at the event.

The pouch is made of red linen blend (self-lined) with a white felt mouse and cotton lucet cord ties. The lucet cord was made by Heather- many thanks!

Some information on the Mouse Guard pouches from: http://broiderers.lochac.sca.org/projects/mouse
More information can be found at that site.

"The Mouse Guard was established in the reign of Corin Anderson and Keredwin the Mouse while Lochac was still a Principality and was retained by the new Kingdom. The award is given to those amongst those very young subjects that Their Majesties finds have been of help to others and otherwise worthy of recognition.

The token of the award is a pouch, bearing the reversed charge from the device of Her Excellency Mistress Keredwin the Mouse. The device (shown right) is "Gules crusily botony, a mouse sejant erect to sinister, tail nowed argent". The pouch bears the mouse charge facing the other way (to dexter) on a plain red field.

The Worshipful Company of Broiderers has been requested to help provide suitable pouches, so that these may given out in each reign."

Mouse Guard Pouch

This week I have finished another Mouse Guard Pouch. It is made of and lined with red linen, and the mouse is made of wool felt. He has a black bead eye, and is edged in chain stitch. The tassels are made from red crochet cotton. The lucet cords were made by Heather.

The Mouse Guard Pouches are SCA tokens  given to those amongst those very young subjects of Lochac that Their Majesties find have been of help to others and otherwise worthy of recognition. More information and sewing guidelines can be found here: http://broiderers.lochac.sca.org/projects/mouse

Mouse pouch

Here is a photo of the mouse pouch I made last year. I have three more in the 'to do' pile.

The pouch is made of red linen and lined with red linen. The mouse is made of appliqued wool felt and surrounded by white linen chain stitch. It doesn't show up properly, but the mouse has 3D whiskers. The eyelets are hand stitched, and the cords were luceted by Heather.

For those in the SCA in Lochac, the instructions can be found here - http://www.sca.org.au/broiderers/Docs/mouseguard_pouches_instructions.pdf